What's next for Apple's €13bn tax battle?

Margrethe Vestager is on a US charm offensive, making the case about recovering alleged unpaid taxes - but she has been met with more offense than charm

In the wake of last month's controversial decision by the European Commission to seek "recovery of illegal state aid" for alleged unpaid taxes in Ireland from Apple of up to a13bn - plus interest - the European competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, went to the United States this week on a "charm offensive" to make her case to government officials, lawmakers and trade officials.

Vestager met with US treasury secretary Jacob Lew, had a closed-door session with members of the US Senate finance committee, and spoke at the Global Antitrust Enforcement Symposium at Georgetown University, where she gave a vigorous defense of the EC's decision.